rachelb36's review against another edition
3.0
This was okay; a pretty standard essay about how reading is awesome.
The author and I definitely don't share the same worldview, so I disagree with her assertions about reading "dirty" (sexual in nature) books. As a Christian, I believe that sin does exist, and we should stay away from it - including the temptation to sin.
The author and I definitely don't share the same worldview, so I disagree with her assertions about reading "dirty" (sexual in nature) books. As a Christian, I believe that sin does exist, and we should stay away from it - including the temptation to sin.
dutchtineke's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't really care for the book, compared to what I read it did to lots of other people here and on Goodreads. I suspect it is because reading hasn't been quite the same for me in these last couple of years. So I guess you could say that this is a wrong book at the wrong time.
bethgiven's review against another edition
4.0
A book about being a bookworm?! Be still my heart! Anna Quindlen is a gifted writer and I simply adored her reminsicings on reading through childhood, her recollections of particular favorite books -- I liked it so much that I was reading aloud whole passages to my husband. I wasn't quite as enthralled with the discussion on banned books (maybe because I couldn't identify with it as readily). But I did think the book lists in the back were fun (even though I shake my head at her omission of Les Miserables from her "thick, wonderful reads" list and her inclusion of Sons and Lovers on "books to save in a fire" -- she notes that such book list are subjective, anyway, and it's true.)
Just like [b:A Short Guide to a Happy Life|100286|A Short Guide to a Happy Life|Anna Quindlen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320522593s/100286.jpg|96695], this book is entirely quotable. I wanted to scribble down the whole thing in my notebook. Here are a couple of my favorites:
"We read in bed because reading is halfway between life and dreaming, our own consciousness in someone else's mind." (p. 20)
"Books are the destination and the journey. They are home." (p. 70)
A slim, well-written book that every reader will enjoy.
Just like [b:A Short Guide to a Happy Life|100286|A Short Guide to a Happy Life|Anna Quindlen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320522593s/100286.jpg|96695], this book is entirely quotable. I wanted to scribble down the whole thing in my notebook. Here are a couple of my favorites:
"We read in bed because reading is halfway between life and dreaming, our own consciousness in someone else's mind." (p. 20)
"Books are the destination and the journey. They are home." (p. 70)
A slim, well-written book that every reader will enjoy.
mrsbond's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic read about reading. Appreciated and identified with her admission that she would sometimes prefer to read rather than spend time with others, even family.
julibug86's review against another edition
3.0
I'm obsessed with Anna Quindlen and can't wait to go home and finish this essay/book.
zeezeemama11's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable. Many great portions and nuggets of literature wisdom. Slightly dated in the last chapter in her rant about laptops not being companionable since E-readers and smart phones had yet to emerge in 98'. I'd recommend but skip the end. I loved her voice throughout was chuckle out loud worth in parts
fionareadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
I love this little novella. Anna Quinlen obviously loves books and I love reading about people who love books, so it was a win win.
tiffanyslack's review against another edition
3.0
It was a nice little read and I got a new list of books to read from it.
bgg616's review against another edition
5.0
This very short book praises the act of reading. Quindlen who was educated in Catholic parochial schools (as I was for 6 of my K-12 education) described an educational experience that was very familiar. My family also had a set of encyclopedias, and Reader's Digest condensed books. We got the daily newspaper, the weekly Catholic Transcript newspaper, and Reader's Digest. But form a young age, I had a library card. Libraries were essential. Books were expensive and Quindlen discusses the fact that few families bought books. We were a military family and due to frequent moves books were something we couldn't accumulate. This may explain why as an adult I live in a house jammed with books, and as an academic, I have the biggest library in my department.
This book was published in the late 1990's when many book lovers were concerned that digital texts would lead to the decline of physical books. However in 2016, physical books are outselling e-books. This article :WHY I’M PUTTING EBOOKS ON THE SHELF FOR 2016
https://michaelhyatt.com/ebooks-2016.html
includes the primary reason I read physical books much more often: out of sight, out of mind. I forget I have the e-books AND it is much less satisfying to finish an e-book.
Quindlen provides best of lists at the end which I enjoyed, but some might see as filler. Overall this is another book about the joy of reading that was a joy to read for me.
This book was published in the late 1990's when many book lovers were concerned that digital texts would lead to the decline of physical books. However in 2016, physical books are outselling e-books. This article :WHY I’M PUTTING EBOOKS ON THE SHELF FOR 2016
https://michaelhyatt.com/ebooks-2016.html
includes the primary reason I read physical books much more often: out of sight, out of mind. I forget I have the e-books AND it is much less satisfying to finish an e-book.
Quindlen provides best of lists at the end which I enjoyed, but some might see as filler. Overall this is another book about the joy of reading that was a joy to read for me.